witesoxfan

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 02:54 PM) Chicago is on the West Coast of Lake Michigan. They aren't going to stay in America during the offseason anyways.

This is really cool. Thanks for sharing.

Still a luxury box available too. You can get that for $97K.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 12:18 PM) Did anyone else vote on Deadspin? I'm interested to hear who you voted for. I did some voting. Pretty sure I'm the only person on the planet who voted yes for Ray Durham.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 11:05 AM) So why not Bagwell then? http://baseballevolution.com/asher/bagwellconspiracy.html There's your doubt right there. QUOTE (Reddy @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 11:49 AM) and amphetamines don't? Kick out Hank Aaron! He answered this in the post. QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 11:25 AM) They are worse. It is the variable which significantly makes you a better and different player. The other variables may help you play up to your potential (greenies) but steroids change your potential in an unnatural way. The other aspect is health. If you concerned about head injuries in football that is nothing compared to what these will to your body.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 10:52 AM) Honestly I doubt he was 100% clean, but the problem is you can't make HoF votes based on doubt and suspicion, because that's a slippery and clearly unfair slope. The hall is FULL of cheaters - why are steroids any better or worse? They aren't. It's simply our mass media and access making it such a big deal. Do I wish players had never used? Yep. Do I hate Barry Bonds? Yep. But there's literally no fair way to say who should and shouldn't be in the hall, so in light of that, I don't see another option besides voting the players with the best stats into the hall. The voters have obviously proven that you CAN refuse to vote for someone based on doubt and suspicion. Why couldn't you? Due to the circumstances, every single player was guilty by association unless you did something to stand out and prove you were clean. Thomas did that. It seems that there's enough support and evidence surrounding Thome and Griffey that they should get in too, but it's certainly possible they don't too. We'll find out in a few years.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 08:58 AM) IMO they should make a package deal for Love that includes their 1st round pick, the Charlotte pick and the rights to Mirotic. Gives Minnesota a chance to rebuild with picks in a deep draft since they have to know Love is leaving after next year anyway. Noah, Love, Butler, FA shooter, Rose. Winner. Minnesota has been pretty unlucky overall this year, and while they'll likely end up playing worse than their Pyth W-L just due to general inconsistencies (a poor defense and the ability to put up games where they score 130), they are a better team than their record indicates. I think they'll end up in the playoffs still. With Bledsoe out a while, Phoenix is likely to fall off and I don't think Dallas is this good either. And frankly, with the drought they've had, there's no point in moving Love until it's absolutely necessary to do so.

Braxton Miller

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 07:18 AM) If I were a reporter, questions I would ask Peyton Manning: "Where is Warren Buffet from?" "What's the largest city in Nebraska?" "Where do they play the College World Series?" "Where can I get some good mail order steaks?" "What do you call it when you play Texas Hold'em but get four cards instead of two?" Oh, I think I know the answer to this one. Is it "f***in' Julius!"?

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 06:55 PM) Translation: If the Yankees sign Tanaka, we still have a better staff in the playoffs. I don't necessarily agree, but that's beside the point entirely. The Sox sign Tanaka because they think he makes them a better team, not to see how they match up with the Yankees.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 06:55 PM) Translation: If the Yankees sign Tanaka, we still have a better staff in the playoffs. I don't necessarily agree, but that's besides the point entirely.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 03:36 PM) One last thing too: Let's say the Yankees sign Tanaka. The Sox make the playoffs as a WildCard in 2015. The Yankees play the Sox and start Tanaka in Game 1 vs. Sale. Are we somehow destined to lose that game? If we start Quintana #2 against CC, are we destined to lose that one, too? Or maybe we get another RHSP in that period, starting him in Game 2 and Q in Game 3. Are we destined to lose that serious, or are we destined to have a s***ty rotation or else get out-pitched and beaten in the playoffs just because we don't have Tanaka? Thinking with your brain and not your dick helps at times. What on earth are you talking about here?

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jan 11, 2014 -> 07:10 PM) Mike Piazza then and "now" Yeah totally reminiscent of Barry Bonds. Absolutely. smh gmafb If you want suspicion, how about facts from the horse's mouth? Piazza admitted using now banned substances in his biography. Honestly - my suspcions alone - I think he was a main figure in PEDs, and he just has never had anyone out him. It has been suspected that as many as 75-90% of players used. They've persecuted like 5-10%. I mean, if more than 1 guy traffics cocaine in Chicago, then more than 1 person traffics PEDs in baseball. The Mitchell Report is not the end all, be all of the steroid era - I think it's merely the first part of the story. Also, I have cooled on my Piazza for the Hall stuff.

I can let you know that we have already discussed it behind the scenes. Still, in the end, it's everyone's board, so I think a poll may be an option eventually, but lets leave these thread open for discussion. Frankly, the two ideas I like are a banner honoring Frank (my ideal choice) and one looking at the new young guns. Maybe we can think of something else though.

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ Jan 11, 2014 -> 05:25 PM) We can get it done by Tuesday. Just send some strippers to his hotel room. If titties don't work, than send chicken wings. No man can resist titties and chicken wings. I'm afraid that they'll spoil by the time they get to Japan.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jan 10, 2014 -> 10:11 PM) I just love the fact that he will not cost picks. If he will agree to a shorter deal than it will be even better. Heck if we're out of it early this year, and Garza is productive then another option is flipping him for prospects, similar to what the Cubs pulled off. That he will not cost a draft pick drives his price UP, not down. There are going to be pitchers available next year that won't cost picks. He's getting 3 years at the absolute bare minimum. Frankly, the guy I am watching is Homer Bailey. He's a free agent set for a huge pay day after this year, but the Sox have loved him forever. Jocketty has said he's unsure if the Reds will re-sign him. Some of that is undoubtedly GM speak for "We don't need him, but if he brings his price down we'll sign him." Still, it doesn't build a good relationship, and Bailey could easily fetch $15-18 mill over a 5 year deal. There's absolutely no smoke, but I could see a Freddy Garcia situation here. Trade for the guy, sign him to, say, 4/$66 with a mutual option for the 5th year for $22 mill. This is a guy that IS still getting better. Frankly, I think theres a better chance of that happening than Garza. I put Bailey at like 0.04% chance of happening, while I put Garza at 0.001.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jan 10, 2014 -> 06:01 PM) If the season started tomorrow, who are your 4th and 5th starters? Johnson and.... As was mentioned, Surkamp or Rienzo. They'll bring in other guys on minor league invites too. This is beside the point. The Sox have guys coming up and, of necessary, can go get a Garza later. Right now Garza probably takes them from 78-80 wins to 81-83. Tanaka can do way, way more than that. Moving forward, you expect Garza to decline slightly and by the end of the deal, he could easily be a 4 or 5. If they signed him for 1 or 2 years, I might be ok with it, but I'm not even sure about that.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jan 10, 2014 -> 05:52 PM) I may be in the minority, but I do believe he can be effective with us. If the Sox simply only want to run 20 year olds to the mound, then I can understand not paying Garza the big bucks. But to say he will suck for us because of the way he finished the season in Texas is irrational. I want Tanaka more than the next guy, but is it realistic? And since it is not likely realistic do you guys simply want give our prospects a chance to develop in spots 4 and 5? I can respect that but them Hahn BETTER go after Scherzer next winter for sure. The Sox have plenty of talented pitchers that can be effective. The reason you sign Tanaka is because he can be really f***ing good. Garza has proven over the duration of his career that he is not that pitcher.

For the record, Garza's career GO/AO is 1.05.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jan 10, 2014 -> 05:42 PM) I know he is older, but he will also be $50 million cheaper, I think Garza and Coop can really work well together where he is more of a ground ball pitcher. He is only 30 and has won some big playoff games. 2009 ALCS MVP. We need a veteran right handed SP who can split up the lefties. Garza can eat innings and is a gamer. Also lastly, he will not cost us draft picks. Now IMO that is just as big enough reason to go after him if you ask me. All the other veteran starters FA's will cost picks. The $50 million is not the point. Garza is not a piece you sign and expect him to get better over the life of the deal - you expect him to get worse. You also expect him to be a #3 starter. Tanaka you expect to get better and to be a potential ace. Garza does not push them over the top this year nor next year, and his production could just as easily be matched by Johnson, Surkamp, or Paulino at 4.1% percent of the cost (that's $500k compared to $12 mill). Those are also team controlled years rather than team contractually obligated years. Matt Garza is a good pitcher, but he is not right for the White Sox.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jan 10, 2014 -> 05:25 PM) It really makes very little sense to bring up Garza. Tanaka is a different story. Young pitcher who could be next to Sale for years and drastically improve the team. Garza doesnt drastically improve the team and we know what he is. Being on the wrong side of 30 is a bad thing too. Not that he will necessarily follow it, but use Edwin Jackson as an example. He was a 29 year old, signed a $52 million deal, and came out and put up a 4.98 ERA with a strikeout rate getting worse and a walk rate climbing. Matt Garza is just not a smart move at this point. I said it before and I'm saying it again. If you have the choice to get an ace like Tanaka, sure, do it, go ahead. Why spend that kind of money on a #3 starter (at best) when you already have a guy who is getting paid that to do that in Danks, 2 assured rotation spots, and then 4 more guys in Johnson, Paulino, Rienzo, and Surkamp that can hold down the last two spots? It's not the move this team needs right now.

The Sox likely sat down with him, Casey Close, and a translator and said "We really like what you have to offer. We think you'd be a great fit in Chicago not only this year, but for years to come. You could really build a legacy here and become one of the greatest Japanese born players to play in the Majors. [more smoke up ass] What are you looking for in terms of a contract? OK, cool beans bro, here's about what we're willing to offer. If you feel like you want to play for us, we'd love it; if not, we respect your decision and wish you the best of luck. PS sake blows, how do you guys drink that s***?"

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jan 10, 2014 -> 04:00 PM) I disapprove. Until Hahn get a legitimate left-handed middle of the order power hitter and shuts Lillian up forever, he's failed. I hear Grady Sizemore is available

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 10, 2014 -> 12:57 PM) Eh, I love what Le Batard did. I do too, I don't think it was wrong at all. I think these people who vote for 1 or 2 in a class like this are absolute moron pieces of s***. Merely stating that, in the eyes of the BBWAA, if they view LeBatard in the wrong, they should view these other guys too.